Door-key fastener



March 10, 1925. 1,529,508

L. RUPERT DOOR KEY FASTENER File d Dec. 31 1923 INVENTOR.

W I v ATTORNEY.

. Lou is Rupert V Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS RUPERT, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

DOOR-KEY FASTENER.

Application filed December 31, 1923. Serial No. 683,702.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lotus RUPERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Key F asteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to door key fasteners, and has for its primary object the provision in the manner as hereinafter set forth, of a fastener attached to the escutcheon plate of the door, in such a manner and so constructed as to be always in engagement with the key when it is left in the keyhole of the door to prevent the removal of the key by any person at the other side of the door.

A further object of this invention is the provision in a manner as hereinafter set forth, of a door key fastener having in its structure, means which will automatically cause the fastener to move to engaging position when released.

' from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of that portion of a door wherein the lock is located, showing the device embodying this invention as applied.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse view of the device embodying this invention, and of the door and surrounding parts thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the key engaging plate member which is slidably secured to the plate of the door.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings, a portion of a door is indicated at 1, showin' a conventional form of mortise lock 2 an escutcheon plate 3 having a key-hole formed therein, as at 4, and having the knob 5 extending therefrom, the plate 3, here indicated, taken as being positioned on the inner side ofthe door 1.

The device embodying this invention comprises a vertically positioned substantially rectangular plate 6 having its lower. end turned outwardly at right angles as at 7, forming thefinger hold for the actuation of the plate; This plate has its back positioned flat against the faceof the escutcheon plate 3 and is adapted to be shifted vertically over the face of this plate and to provide for the retention of the si'ftable plate against the escutcheon plate there is provided a stud 8 having one end constricted as at 9 and passed through an aperture in the escutcheon plate 3 at a predetermined distance directly below the key-hole 4, and the inner end of this constricted portion is then swedged over as at 10 to permanently fix this stud in position. The shiftable plate 6 has formed therethrough a vertical lon itudinal slot- 11 extending from a point adjacent the outstanding tongue 7 at the lower end of the plate to about midway the ends of the plate. Through this slot 11, the stud 8 projects, and after the plate 6 has been placed in position with the stud extending through the slot, a pin 12 is fastened through an aperture previously formed in the stud, and

this pin 12 is retained in a position trans- 13 is adapted to extend through a second elongated slot 16 formed in the body of the shiftable plate 6, and this slot 16 is positioned adjacent one edge of the plate 6 and in the upper portion thereof. Upon the shifting of the plate 6, the stud 13 also serves to guide the plate and retain the plate in position as does the stud 8, but this stud 13 has a'further function, which is as follows.

After: the plate is fixed in position and bothvstuds 8 and'13 are extended through their respective slots and the pin 12 is in position, a washer 17 is slipped over the stud 13, and then one end of a helical-spring 18 is passed through the aperture 15, and the other end of the spring is exten'deddown- Wardly and passed through an aperture 19 in the outwardly projected lower end of the plate, 6'. Itfwill thus beseen that Whenthe L plate 6is drawn down the spring; l8will. be expanded; anduponrelease of the plate ,6, 1 the" contraction of the spring will draw the plate upward into position to engage a key 20 locatedin the keyhole ofthedoor.

the shiftable plate 6 to receive and engage .the body of the key 20.

Fromthe foregoing description, it will be .seen that a very effective means is provided to prevent any unauthorlzed person from rea moving the key from the key-hole of the door from the outside. Any person upon the inside of the door desiring to remove the key, grasps the outstanding flange 7 with the fingers and forces the same down carryingvdownwithit the plate 6 untilthe niche 1-21 isbelow the lower portionofthekey hole-4 whereupon the key may be withdrawn and upon the release ofthe finger hold 7,the.

spring 18 which has, been-expanded duringthe downward movement of-the' plate Swill.

contract pulling the finger hold 7-fro1n the stud l3-whicliis stationary, and automati cally' drawing the plate 6 upwardly to cover U the key-hole, or if the action is reversed and the key has been inserted when the plate was drawn 1 down, the spring would draw the latebaCk until the niche 21 engagedthe body'of the key 20, thus covering all of the key-hole below the body .of thekey and .pre-

ventingithe withdrawal of the key from the key-hole again exc'eptbythe shifting ,of the plate which can onlylbetaccomplished from the inside of the door. I

What I claim is:-v V a V 1. The coimbinatioiiv with a-door having .sinall niche 21 is formed inthe upper end of.

a key operated lock and including an escutcheon, of a door keyfastener comprising a shi'ftable angle-shaped key retaining mem- 5 her having a pair of elongated vertically positioned slots therethrough, a pair of guide and retaining studs for said angled member secured to said escutcheon and each extending through one of said slots, and a resilient member connecting one of said studs to said angle-shaped n ember to automatically shift .the latter ,to key retaining position.

2. t The combination with adoor havinga key operated lock and including an eseutch ,01 of 1 y f n ompri in a shiftable angle-shaped Pkey retaining memb r l' ev ne- -pa r of longat d rt al y P sitioned slots therethrough, a pair of guide and retaining studs for said angled niember secured to sa d escutcheon and each exvtend ng through one of said slots a resilient memberconnecting one oi said jstuds to said angle-shaped member to automatically sitioned slots ofsubstantially equal lengths the'rethrough, the greater portion of one of said slots extending above the other, apair f guide and retaining studs v forjsaid angled member, secured to said escutcheon and :each extending throughoneof said slots, anda spring having one end connected to that stud extending throughthe' upper of thetwo parts and connected at its otheriend to said angle-shaped member to automatically shift'the latter to key'retaini'ng' position. i V I V cIntes'timony'whereof, Tall 1X signature hereto.

J Louis RUPERT. 

